逆耳 (nì ěr) — unpleasant to the ear; grating (usually of honest, critical advice)
Definition
逆耳 means 'unpleasant to hear' — almost always used for honest advice that is hard to accept. The set phrase 忠言逆耳 ('faithful words grate on the ear') uses it idiomatically.
adjective
unpleasant to the eargrating (usually of honest, critical advice)
Examples
- 逆耳，。Zhōng yán nì ěr, dàn duì wǒ men yǒu hǎo chù.Loyal advice is unpleasant to hear, but it benefits us.
- 逆耳，。Zhè xiē huà suī rán nì ěr, què shì zhēn xīn wèi nǐ hǎo.Though these words are grating to the ear, they are genuinely for your own good.
- 逆耳。Tā tīng bú jìn rèn hé nì ěr de huà.He won't listen to anything unpleasant to his ears.
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